GVF North American Founders Fund
Passionate. Focused. Innovative. Founders exemplify the qualities needed to achieve growth and success in business.
Clarien’s North American Founders Fund holds a concentrated portfolio of high-quality businesses that are leaders within strong, long-term industries. The Fund aims to protect your capital and deliver solid returns by:
Selecting companies that exhibit a founder’s mentality
These are owner-led companies in which the interests of the leadership and the investors are aligned. They are innovative, sustainable and diversified, with a clear vision and a commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) best practices.
Investing in exceptional companies with proven longevity
We look for performers with strong track records and identifiable and sustainable competitive advantages that sustain enduring returns on investment.
Building a profound understanding of each company
Our exhaustive reviews of each prospective business include thorough examinations of all aspects of their structure, strategy, and financials, from cash flow to assets and return on capital.
Leveraging institutional investment strength
With Clarien Investments, institutional and individual clients benefit from a uniform investment approach. Investors in the Fund are served by the same principles and discipline that support large institutions and family offices.
For additional information, please contact your Relationship Manager, or email privatewealth@clarienbank.com.
We view the management teams of our portfolio companies as partners, sharing the same objectives for progress and long-term success. Through our partnership with the Portland Holdings group, we:
- Leverage the value of the Group’s investment framework
- Build on the investing expertise of our team
- Enhance our ability to develop world-class equity solutions
Miguel DaPonte, CFA
EVP, Chief Wealth Management Officer
Mr. DaPonte is a CFA charter holder who obtained an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Prior to joining Clarien, Mr. DaPonte was the SVP Investments and Pensions at a local insurance company. During that time, he was responsible for the asset allocation and manager selection of the balance sheet assets of the firm and headed the company’s defined contribution pension business. Prior to that, he was Assistant Vice President at a global annuity and life insurance company, where he monitored and advised on investment portfolios totaling over $12 billion.
The formative years of his career were spent at an investment advisory service firm as a Senior Investment Analyst, where he managed global equities and fixed income portfolios.
In his new role as Chief Wealth Management Officer, Mr. DaPonte will be tasked with leading and overseeing Clarien’s Wealth Management business and all associated teams, including but not limited to: Private Banking, Investment Management (Clarien Investments Limited) and Trust Management (Clarien Trust Limited), including Family Office and Clarien Corporate Services Limited.
Qing Lutkin (Judy), CFA
VP, Head of Research & Asset Management
Judy is focused on development and execution of investment strategies for private client portfolios and institutional investors. Prior to joining Clarien, Judy was Portfolio Manager for PRP Performa Ltd., where she provided customised investment solutions for captive insurance companies and institutional investors.
Previously, Judy was a Manager of Market Strategy at Saint-Gobain China, a subsidiary of the French Fortune 500 company. She earned an MBA in international business from the University of Birmingham, UK and a BSc in economics from Hubei University, China. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
David Tavares, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
With over a decade of investment and insurance experience in Bermuda and the U.S., David has accrued a deep knowledge of portfolio management, financial analysis and reporting, as well as group insurance underwriting. As the Senior Portfolio Manager at Clarien, David oversees the development and execution of investment strategies for ultra-high-net-worth, high-net-worth and family office clients, helping them to achieve their financial goals and objectives. In addition to being directly responsible for the day to day management of discretionary portfolios, David also manages the Global Voyager Alternative Investment Fund and the ILS (Insurance-Linked Securities) Fund.
Formerly a Senior Wealth Manager at Argus Wealth Management, David also served as an Operations Manager and Financial Analyst at the company during his seven year tenure. Prior to that, he held various roles in the insurance industry at Argus in Bermuda, and Sun Life Financial in Wellesley, Massachusetts. David holds a BBA from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Canada, is a CFA charterholder, and has an ALMI designation.
Henry Hernandez
Junior Portfolio Manager
During his more than 15 year career in the financial industry, Henry has garnered extensive knowledge of treasury banking management, financial reporting, trading, and portfolio management. In his current role as Junior Portfolio Manager at Clarien, Henry is responsible for the development and execution of investment strategies for Private Client portfolios. His role also includes research and other investment related support functions needed to manage client portfolios, as well as offering technical sales support for Clarien’s wider Wealth Management business. Henry also sits on the CIL Investment Committee, helping to contribute to both strategic and tactical asset allocation positioning.
Prior to joining the Bank in June 2022, Henry worked for nearly three years as a Head Trader/ Manager at ACM Bermuda Ltd, where he helped to build portfolios for clients tailored to their financial goals and constraints. After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2007, he began working as a trader at Banco Exterior in Venezuela while also studying simultaneously for his Master’s degree in Financial Institutions. Once that accreditation was attained, Henry was hired to work at Bancaribe Curacao, where he managed a long-term proprietary portfolio and acted as a broker for clients in various different asset types (Fixed Income, Equity and Structured Products). In August 2021, he passed his CFA Level 1 Exam.
Account Types
Clarien Smart Solutions
- Digital Account Opening
- Digital Account Maintenance
- Clarien iBank
- Clarien iTrade+
- Clarien iInvest
- Clarien iBank
- Clarien MasterCard® Debit Card
- Clarien VISA® Credit Card
- My Rewards App
- Clarien Wealth Management Lending Solutions
- Clarien Pre-Approved Offers
- Trust and Family Office
- Corporate Services
- Global Voyager Funds Ltd.
- International Equity Fund
- GVF North American Founders Fund
- GVF Insurance Linked Securities (ILS) Fund
- Liquidators